Blogs

There is no shortage of graffiti in the Wynwood Art District and the surrounding areas. A couple of blocks away from the art galleries, you'll find different works amidst the dilapidated buildings. This weathered piece at NW 1st Place and 21st Street appears to be a remnant of the earlier graffiti in the area. Or perhaps being surrounded by auto mechanic shops and storage houses has taken it's toll on this piece. -- Elvis Ramirez

Elvis Ramirez

Photos by Elvis Ramirez

On my way to lunch one day, I passed by this piece on NE 28th Street and NE 2nd Avenue. I didn’t think much of it because it looked like it was part of the buildings décor. I decided to take a closer look and I realized that there is a good chance that somebody just used this wall as their canvas, rather than it being part of the establishment's decoration. -- Elvis Ramirez

Being anywhere near I-95 in the afternoon is a guaranteed way to get a headache. So I decided to be adventurous and take North Miami Avenue as an alternate route home, it’s a congested route but at least my wheels turn more than once an hour. While, I stared at the back of a green VW bug I caught a glimpse of this piece on the side of a building on NW 34th Terrace. I made a quick U-turn, and wondered at how something so colorful can be so grim at the same time. -- Elvis Ramirez

Elvis Ramirez

Elvis Ramirez

Rather than dealing with people on Biscayne Boulevard who don’t know how to merge, I chose to go down NW 36th Street. As I was reaching the light at NW 5th Avenue, the dude in front of me slammed on the brakes. After holding back a few expletives and regaining my composure. I looked over to my left and saw this piece on the side of a mechanic’s shop. -- Elvis Ramirez

As I walked from gallery to gallery during this year’s first Wynwood art walk, I noticed a lot of graffiti but assumed most of it was there as part of an exhibition. But this one on NW 2nd Avenue and 24th Street was far from most of the galleries and all the other "graffiti." I wonder if anyone else admired this piece before hopping into the next gallery. -- Elvis Ramirez

Photo by Elvis Ramirez

After missing my exit on the Palmetto Expressway, the one that leads to NW 167th Street, because some dude couldn't show me some common courtesy. I had to take the long way back onto the expressway. I looked to my left as i traveled up the ramp back onto State Route 826 and saw these two pieces. -- Elvis Ramirez

Photo by Elvis Ramirez

Photo by Elvis Ramirez

Traveling down I-95 South, I looked over to my right just in time to catch a glimpse of this work and watch it fade into the distance through my rearview mirror. I got off on the next exit after 135th Street. Because the tanker on which the graffiti was painted faced I-95, it took me a good half hour to find it. As luck would have it, just as I was about to give up, I turned down a dead end street on Northwest 7th Avenue and 121st Street, and there it was. -- Elvis Ramirez

All Photos by Elvis Ramirez

All Photos by Elvis Ramirez

These murals are all that is left of the “Bullfrog Eatz” nightclub on NE 2nd Ave and 23rd Street. Like many Miami night clubs, it existed for less than a year before going out of business, joining the many empty shells in this area of Miami that refuses to be gentrified.

All Photos by Jason Handelsman

This structure (14th St., and N. Miami Ave.) sits near the railroad tracks that separate “Mid-town” from “Overtown.” No matter what you call it, it is still “Dirty Dade.” -- Jason Handelsman